Debug app “TestApplicationLauncher” spotted on a retail Switch console
A user on reddit shared a picture of their newly acquired Nintendo Switch a few weeks ago. But instead of your typical Splatoon 2 screenshot, what was on that user’s Switch was a debug application, “TestApplicationLauncher”.
According to SciresM and other Switch hackers, TestApplicationLauncher is part of the initial bare-bones firmware that is installed on Nintendo Switch devices at Factory setup time. This minimal OS’s job is to run a series of diagnosis tools, then install the actual retail firmware on the console (during this process, we assume the debug tools are deleted).
According to the switchbrew wiki, multiple applications are run on the Switch to test multiple aspects of its hardware: Wireless, usb, GPU, LCD, Keyboard, etc… all of these tests are ran on the console before calibration data being written to the NAND and retail firmware being installed. The wiki also implicitly confirms that the reddit screenshot was not a hoax.
It is probably very rare to have a retail console that somehow didn’t go through that initial factory setup and retained the TestApplicationLauncher and other debug tools.
The Factory Nintendo Switch debug tool that made it to a retail console. This is the screenshot that was uploaded on reddit by a (now deleted) user.
Getting access to such a rare console might let hackers look deeper into some of the internals of the Nintendo switch, to learn more about it and potential vulnerabilities. Even if not useful for hacking purposes, the item is probably rare enough that it would gain significant value on the collector’s market. Unfortunately, it appears the original poster on Reddit ended up returning the console for an exchange (losing potentially good money in the process).
Source: via @SciresM
damn 🙁
He returned it?? hahah (insert facepalm here)
Man that was an opportunity missed bigtime
he returned a console that was probably worth at least millions to Nintendo (if it led to hacks) instead of at least attempting to sell it to ‘interested parties’, great thinking, ***
It’s not worth much more to Nintendo than a letter from the lawyers they have on retainer…
and no, “But it’s my property!!!11!!!!” line doesn’t work in court or against someone who can simply bury you in legal fees.
lol, who the heck cares? just sell anonymously to a trusted hacker and all good.
If I had it, I would get in touch with wololo and ask him to hook me up with a trustworthy hacker.
Actually, a recent case in the US Supreme Court would have protected the user. Look up Lexmark Inc v Impression Inc.
If the guy is Amercian
Makes me want to check my sealed switch now. What a missed opportunity.
A few years back I saw a retail Wii U with a dev sort of software on the game-pad thing. I was about to purchase it from the guy when it belonged to someone else, he was going to unpack another Wii U and swap them out until the lady walked by and asked what is wrong.
The guy could have sold it for more than what he bought it for, used the money to buy another normal switch and help out the modding community immensely, stupid move, he could have made money and got himself a switch.
Im sure at some point we will figure out how to get to this debug menu, but this could have opened a lot of doors